Machine for manufacturing wire cages



W. E. BAKER AND W. F. SONNEMAN. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING WIRE CAGES. APPLICATION FILEID SEPTA. 1920. RENEWED JUNE 24, 1922.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922. I 3 SHEETS-SHEET I W. E. BAKER AND W. F. SONNEMAN.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING WIRE CAGES. APPLICATION FILED SEPTA, 1920. RENEWED JUNE 24. 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

avwawt mag W. E. BAKER AND W. F. SONNEMAN.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING WIRE CAGES.

- APPLICATION FiLED SEPTA, 1920 RENEWED JUNE 24,1922.

1,42%,978., PatentedAw. 8, 1922.

3 SHEETS--SHEEI 3.

@ un um/Maw ess c s To we are? Be wa e smas- Y 19B was ca es teasers e tea e us e' R n ilratsni sd Au 1922.

Applicatipn filed September 4, 1939', Serial No. 408,218. Iltenerved June 24, 1922. Serial No. 570,717.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM E. BAK R and WILLIAM F. Sonnmmnfcitizens offxthe Uni-tech States, residing at :W'aco, in the county of McLe nnan and State of. Texas, have invented'certain new and usefuhImprovements in Machines for Manufacturing Wire Cages, of which the fol-lowing is 'a specification. i

This invention relates to certain newand useful improvements in a machine for manufacturing'wire cages, especially those adapted for the manufacture *of'wire or "metal baskets, bird cages and 'the'likejand i'thas for its primary'object to provid'e a machine which will be practically automatic, Will-require a n'iini'murnatteritidri', and will *be reliable 'and'etlic'i'ent in operation."

The invention further residesin a na'chine which will divide "a'sheet metal sto k into stay-forming strips, arrange the strips in a predetermined relation "and then apply a wirefiner thereto.

Further, the invention resides in means for crimping r'COrrugating the Stay forniing strips, seating thewire filleiinthe corrugations' and'then clinching the hill portions of the strips down ever the when) firmly secure the filler and st ys fto'gether.

Further objects reside thenovelivireapplying mechanism, the 'stay'clinching mechanism, the" cage advancing"means, the cage seyering meansfthe salient features of construction; and the ajfia'li "eiri ents "and combinations ofparts' hereina t'er described and claimed, referenc beiiig'mtde tethe'accompanying drawings enemies Figure I ,'-is an eleyation'of the improved machine as i ieQWed' looking toward "the cage assembling or iorinin'gi'n chaIiism, a'port'i'on of the casing being'remoyeidfi Figure"2',fis aplan .v'iewd' "icting the stayp'rod'ucing' mechanism altone end the transmission gearing and qperatin 'mecha- 'nism' at the opposite-easier 'themachind the latter being disposed beneath the cage for ning mecliaiiisrn' which" been renioyed from thisyi'ew": Figure 3, is a longitudinal yertical section through" the "machine portioiis le ft in elevation and Figure fl; is a horizontalsectionalView on irb a ebiae he s am n J; hr, 7 Referr ng more indetail to the drawings, -i ,L 44,73 *4 e My l e w the numeral 1 designates the base of the frame structure on one "end of which is ar ranged the stay-forming mechanism which includes the Cutting and crimping or corrugating mechanism consisting of the 'coacti'n'g and relatively superposed cutters? and the like vise'disposed and coacting corrugating rollers '23. 'Each cutter consists of a series of cutting disks fixed on a shaft awhi'ch' carhes a gear 5 connected thereto by friction clutch 5 and internieshing with gear 5 of the companion cutter, the said cutters acting't'o sever "or 'divide' the sheet metal stock "fed therebetween into a plurality of 'narIOW strips or ribbons. The stock of sheet metal is fed from a supply roll 6, suitably mounted on standards 7, beneath a friction 'or guide roll 8, which is yieldably held against the lower cutter by means of the slidaible rollers'upporting" frame 9, an adj Listing 'screW'*10 and an'interposed cushioningspring'll. A guide frame 12 also aids in correctly feeding the sheet metal (between the cutters by ie:-

venting the same from buckling, said frame housing the roller and being secured tothe supporting structure or body by screws let. The cut stripsa re directed to the crimp ing rolls 3' fromthe cutt'ers'Q bymeansof the interposed guides 15 secured to -the 'oppositesides of the guideway or passage 16., and after pasing between the crimping'rolls,

which they are'corrugated, the corrugat- -like top plate 25 spaced above the platfdn'n.

Bolted or otherwise secured to tl'ie' platform is a cylindrical casing 26 which constitutes a hub or stub shaft on which a wiresup lying spool of reel 27 is freely journaled'and also ansannula'r gear 28. fixed'brass'wear ring 29 is seated on the shoulder 30, formed around the base ofthe casing '26, andlon this Wear ring or plate rotates the gear 28 hile interposed between the gear ands'pool-"i's interposed a second brass ring or'wear plate Fixed on the gear 28 is an outwardly extending'radial arm 32 having a 'post 33' upstanding beyond the periphery of the wire spool and carrying at its upper end a guide sheave 34 over which the Wire 35 takes to the cage-formers. I of gear 28 will effect movement of the guide pulley 34in an annuularpath about the wire holding spool.

The casing 26 is provided with a reduced upward extension 36 constituting a support fortheinneraset of clinching rollers 37; and providing an annular wall 38 at the juncture of the extension -36 and the casing proper. The wire-spacing and-cage-advancing members are in the form of spirally grooved cage-formers or worms 89 which are arranged in a circular series about the extension or support 36 and-have their-upper ends journaled in a'cap plate. 10-, secured to the upper end of. said extension, while their lower ends terminate in shafts 41am are journaled in the annular wall: 38 and also the platform 23 and fixedly carry small strands,vand the steadier and more regular advancing of the strands. The number of worms may vary depending upon the size of the cage to beformed and the number of stays or ribs, there being aneq'ual number of'stays and worms. Especially where the number of worms is an odd number two adjacent gears 42 are spaced out .of meshing relation and to equalize the drive the two gears substantially -,diameti.'ically i opposite to the drive gear at are relatively spaced, as depicted in Figure 4:.;, v

Obviously rotation, of the worms or spirals in a. forward direction; will advancethe strands of wire along withthecorrugated or crimped stays of sheet metal which are delivered between the worms bythe guide tubes-18 in timed: relation to receivathe strands of wire in the successive corrugations.

To securethe wire to the stays the successive bends -1n the latter are clinched or compressed down over. the wire as they pass betweenthe clinching'or compressing rollers 37 and,46. The clinching rollers 1 46; are yieldably; mounted, each being journaled in the bifurcated end of a slidable blockor support 47 which; isurged inwardly by a spring 48and adjustable as to the degree of pres-- sure screw 49. The slidable b10915? i Obviously then, rotation.

disposed radial pocketsor compartments in the top'plate' 25 which are closed by a cover plate 50 secured thereto, as by means of bolts 51. The compressing and. clinch ing rollers are disposed in cooperating pairs between the advancing worms and in alin'ement with the respective stay stripss that the latter will pass therebetween; The inner rollers 37 are arranged in vertical slots provided in the extension 36 and-have their stub-shafts 52 journalin bearings formed in the wallsfofthe-gslots where they are retained by the straps53. The rollers 37 and 4E6 compressvthe flexible sheet metal down clinch the stays'and' wire together, producing a light, well made, strong anddurable consideredasthe frame, and a filler or covering of wire, .illlG WhOlQ secured together without any solder, riveting or striking out of cleats-fromvthestookr ,The cage is especially designed :for the; manufacture of baskets, birdcagesand fences, but is obviously. not limited to sucharticles. While it has been specifically mentioned that the stays,,are of. sheet'metal andthe filler of wire, it .is not the intentionto so limit'the machinedsince the stays can bezformed of wireand-the filleryof sheet metal, or both of wire or sheet metal. Thetermsflwire and .sheet metal are used as a convenience, therefore, and not as a spe'cificilimitation. lAs the cagetis advanced in its complete stateover the cap; plate 40, which serves as .a

guide therefonand out through the top of the machine, thesameis severed into predetermined lengths bymeans'of a surround ng stationaryblade 54 and a.cooperating, interiorly arranged rotating cutter 55. The stationary cutter "is supported on an annular 'supportq56- secured to the cover plate 50 :screws 57, while the: rotatingcu tter depends from the outer end of a slide 58 which telescopes in an innerucasing 5,9zpivotally mountedatone end; in a U-shaped arm'60a This arm is fixed. on a hub 61.designed tobe ro- 62 to the upperiendof whichythe hub is slidably connected as by Vfeather 63. The hub; is journaled inthe cap plate d0, having a shoulder, seating. thereon and secured cage comprising sheet metal stays or ribs,

,tatedvby a centrally-located, zverticalishaftn.

against: upward displacement by a,remov-,

ablaplate' *Gd engaginggthe under face of said cap plate. Pivoted ina slot 65'in the hub is a lever 66 of substantially bell-crank form, having one arm extending. into the ,axialbore3of the :hub for'engagement bye the shaft 62 and the other arm extending through a slotrformed in the slide'58 -whereby the; latter will be projectediradially, upon vertical movementof the: shaft, and thereby bring the cutter '55 into operative position for severing a length lof the completed page.

shaft is raised only momentarily or'dur- Messrs ing a part of the revolution of the cutter, as will be hereafter explained, and in order to maintain the cutter operative throughout the remainder of the active travel of the cutter a dog 67 is pivoted to drop behind the slide 58 when the latter is projected, a spring 68 being secured to the casing 59 to assist in such operation. Upon "completing the cutting operation, a cam projection '69, depending from'the dog 67, rides upon a lug 70 upstanding from the cap plate 40 and thus releases .the slide 58 to be retracted by a spring 71 anchored at its ends to said slide and the hub 61, respectively.

The transmission gearing derives its power from a suitable source (not shown) connected by a'belt to the tight and loose pulleys 72, the latter being mounted on a shaft 73 which is j ournaled in the standard bearings Hand fixedly carries a bevel .gear 75 on its inner end for meshing with and driving a second bevel gear -7 6.' This second gear has fixed support on a vertical shaft 77 which is journaled in the :base 1 and the platform 23, the same projecting above the platform and to provide a pivot for a right angular lever 78 and a superposed gear 79,"said gear being fixed .to said shaft and in constant meshwith an idler gear carried by said lever. The idler gear is adapted to function as a lower transmission between gears 79 and '28, and .for

this reason thege'ar 80 is swinginglymounted so that by swinging the lever 78 inwardly the gears may be intermeshedand by swinging the lever outwardly the gears may be disconnected. A latch '81 is pivoted onthe outer end oflever 7'8 and designed to enter a keeper recess in the platform to lock the gears in meshing relation. Obviously, [with the gears 80 and 28meshingthe wire-laying arm 32 will have a steady and uninterrupted movement about the cage formers.

To assist inlaying the wire cross strands in the successive grooves of ithetcorrugated stays or ribs; a shaft .82 is journalednon the underside of the plate with its inner (end deflected downwardly toward the cage formers to provide a wire-guiding .or directing arm :83. f

Fixed on the shaft 77 ,above'bevelgear m is a spur gear 584 which meshes with a-loose gear rotatable on a vertioalshafhSG, said I shaft being journaledin thebase and-platform and having a clutch sleeve ,or ,part 187 slidable thereon and adapted to be moved lengthwise .on. the shaft into interlocking relation with a clutch face .88 'carried by ,the

"This last gearmeshes with aggearfillwhich is splined ato vshaft 46 2 and .restsxln :table 492 =that has supporting legs 93. Shaft 62 is journaled and slidable in the base, tableand platform and carries a fixed cam '94: below t-hertableanda coiled spring intermediate thetable and cam forurging-the shaft down ,to its lowermost position. Gear 90 also meshes withranother gear 96 fixed on vertical'shaft 4:5 and carrying a bevel gear 9,8

whichmesheswith alike gear 99 on the ad- ;jacen't end of a horizontal shaft 100, the

same heingjournaled on-the base and transmitting its power to thestay formingmechr canism through worm gears .101 and 102. Gearl-02 is fixed on aiprojecting end of one shaft 519 for drivin the corrugating rolls and. the cutters.

UBeneathgear 7 6 is a fourth gear 103 fixed on shaft 77 and this gear meshes vwith a gear 5104 on shaft 105 for driving a bevel gear 106 "also on the shaft, said bevel gear driving .a like gear 107 ifixed on a horizontal shaft 108 thathas journal bearings ina Y- shaped standflrd-109on the base of the machine. iBetween its journal bearings the shaft .108 is equipped with a ,Worm 110 having meshing relati n w th a Wo g ar 1 ifixed .on vertical shaft 112.

' latively spaced nd superposed on this shaft isa pair bfdisks 1 133 and 114,,each having anarcuate (slot-1515 near its periphery in which is adjustably mounted a plurality of cam pins ,or

lugs 1'16 clamped in the desired position on ,the disks such means as .nuts as shown.

s'llllezlowerset of cam projections is designed .to wipe under ,the inner lend of a lever ,-11 7 which is pivoted on one of ,the legs: or ,posts 22and has its outer .endsconnected bya ilink 118 to a rocker arm 119 fiXedTon the outer end vof shaf .82. Thi s er ry r volut on of disk $113 will -li-ftthe deflected arm 83 .and th eby pr vent th .d atter e gag ng e wi while wrappin .gthe-gends of caiges. The

alink 11-8 is detaohabl-y connected to shaft 82 wh reby h superstructure may be removed for replacing ,anempty spool Wi-tll'fiillllOIlG. The .upper cam disk 114 is ,arlfallgedtto avipe beneath the inner end of a- ;1e er 120 *which is pivoted at its opposite endito fan-- other p i '22 an rme n ermediate y with a yoke for straddling and being'co'nnecteddao {the ,clutchsleeve 8.7 solth at as'Zthe cams on disk 11 .4 elevate ,the inner end :of

said leventhe sleeve-will-also be moved @verc mi a- 1y on its supp rting shaf ,to .unc uteh the gear85 i-from asa ds af 86. 'Qn h under-side ofid-isk l -lia. is apin or lug 12-1adapt- .ed to engage and wipe ,an arm 122 vclamped on the vupper end ,of a short vertical shaft 123, said shaft being journaled in a beajring ,124 of table-19,2 and having its lower end ,fixed to a lever 125- Each. rotation ,of disk 115i .{will effect, oscillation of the ,arm- 122 out lever 125 and therebyelevate the shaft 621 30 from one side to the other of deadcenter so' that afterthe leverhas-moved beyond dead center the spring will'then function to swing the lever the remainder of its travel-and there" yieldably retain it. Immediately after the'c'utterhas been shifted to operative posi tion the cam 9a,'=having an abutment, strikes "the leverl25, and swings it" outwardly beyonddeadcenter so that the spring will function to carry it further outwardly, such action disposing the arm" 122 again in the path-of pm 121.

- The operation of the machine may be briefly stated as follows: g e

The: roll offsheet' metal 6 'is mounted on the standards and a'supply' of wire provided on'thespool 27. Being fed beneath guideroller 8 and'between the cutters 2, the sheet'metal is 'divided into' a plurality of strips or ribbons"(nine in the present in stance) all of which are then passed between rollers-"3 to receive] the desired crimping or corrugating; Fromthese rollers liliGmOOT- rugate'd, stay-forming' strips are directed "through the casing or inclosing wall 127 into the'guid'e tubes the lower ends of which are supported 'in'compa'ct relation by a bracket 1128' depending from the overlying platform. The'strips are delivered by the tubes in cir- Ccular arrangement between the cage formers and mime-with the respective pairs of comjjpr'essing and clinching rolls.

causing the wire-laying'arm 32, to be rotated about the inwardly" arranged corrugated "stays. This operation effects laying of the wire strands in tliefsuccessive corrugations of the'sta'ys and'the grooves of thecage formers "0r; strand carr ers, the latter caus1ng the crimping'rollers. The number of strands of wire in; a' complete cage determined by the timing's'haft 1.12am the numberof teeth in w'orm' gear 111, In the present instance, the cutter ls'actuat'edonce du'ring'every re volution of the timing shaft and serves to sever the cage in predetermined len ths, the fixed bladebeingfs'et at"'anupward' angle so that the cages can be cut" offduring the process of "form ng, or constructlng' them; During the rotation of thetrmingmm the upper cam jdiskdi'sengagesthe cl-ut'ch parts"87 and '88 "60 to arrest rotatiom of the central shaft 62. 'The l'ower cam disk also functionsto elevate lever 11? and liftthe-deflected,"wire guiding arm; Continued rotation of" the upper 1 cam diskeffect's oscillation "of lever 125 inwardly so thatthe cam 94 will ride-up'onthe same if and thus elevate the-central shaft to eject the cutter to'operative position. The wire-guid i-ng arm 83 is held in its normally operative position by a coiled spring 129 urging upwardly on the outer end of lever 117. Oil

cups or chambers 130 are provided in the casing-.127 for delivering the necessary lubricant to the several bearings through the instrumentality of ducts or tubes 131.

The entire mechanism ispractically auto matic and reliable in operation requiring a minimum amount of attention. are easilv shaped and constructed into various articles such as baskets, bird cages,

fences and the like. The strands of wire are clinched to the-stays or ribs-without necessitating any cutting or striking out of portions thereofv to produce cleats or the like; no solder is required the connection being effected-by rolling down or compressing the projections of the ribs over across the wire, such operation producing a neat and secure Zjoint. I

While the foregoing detailed description :has been givenfor' the sake of clearness of understanding it is obviously not intended to solimit or confine the invention beyond the scope of the appended claims. 1

. 'lWhat is claimed-.5

i '1: Ina cage forming machine, means for supplying a sheetof metal,'means for dividing the sheet longitudinally into strips' .to

formstays for the cage, and means for pass ingwire strands transversely of'the stays and securing the same together.

' 2. In a cage forming maehine,means for supplying a sheet of metal, means for dividing-the sheet longltudina-lly into strips to form stays for the cage, means for forming the stays to recelve wire filler, and means for applyingand fastening a wire filler to thestays. r i

In a'cage forming machine, means'for supplying asheet of metal, means for divid- Ting: the sheet longitudinally into; strips to form-stayszforthe cage, means for crimping the strips, and means for interlocking a filler with the crimps ofsaid strips."

4; In cage forming machine, means for supplylng a sheet of metal, means for dividingthei'sheet longitudinally into strips to jformsta'ys for the cage, means for crimping the strips, means for applying a filler to the strips, and means for clinching'the crimps "down the fillerto "secure the latter to the strip' H I w 5. In a cage forming machine, means for supplying asheet of metal, means for dividing the sheet. longitudinally into strips to form stays for the cage, means for crimping the strips,"means for laying strands of wire Imthesuccessive 'cr1mps,andmeans for securing the wire 'a'nd strips together. ""6. ln' acage formmg machlne, means for supplying a sheet of metal, .means for divid- The cages ing the sheet longitudinally: into strips to form stays for the cage, means-for crimping the, strips, means, for laying strands of wire in the successive crimps,'and means for compressing and clinching theuc'rimps of the strips down overv the wire to securezthe-same together. a 1 I 7. In a cage formin-gmachine, means for feeding corrugated 1 stay forming strips, and means for successively-laying a filler in the corrugations thereof: and clinching the same therein by bending over the corrugations of wire. I a

' 11. :In a cage formingmachine, means for the stay strips. 1 4-: i

8. In a cage forming machinegmeans for feeding corrugatedwjstay forming strips, means for coiling avfillerabout "prearranged stays, and means for interlocking the i filler with the corrugations by crimping ther-latter overthe filler. w, n1

9. Ida cage forming machine, m,eans .for feeding corrugated Ystay forming strips, means for arranging thefistripstofform a hollow body, and means forQcoilin-ga wire about the pre+arranged strips and engaging "the same in the corrugatlons'thereof,-'means engaged with the'coils of Wire-to :advance the co-related partsas aunit, and means for pressing the corrugations over: onto. .the'wire.

10. vIn a oage'forming'machin'e, meansaforr feeding corrugated a stay -formingastrips, means for .arranging the strips to. form a hollow body, means for; coiling wireabout the pre-arran'ged-strips and engaging the same in the corrugations thereof, and-means for bending the corrugations'do'wn over. the

feeding corrugated stayformmg strips,

'means for arranging the strips to form a hollow body, means for coiling a'Wire about the pie-arranged strips and engaging I the same in the corrugations thereof, and means for compressing the pro ections of the strips 4 between each-strand of Wire over the latter" to secure the wire to thestrlpst 12. In a cage form1ng-machine,-means for feeding corru'gated stays, means 'fOI"; laying cross strands in thevg'rooves of said stays,

"and-means'for clinching the cross strands in the st-ay='grooves by pressing s'taysthereover. 1 -v 1 13. 'In a cage-formingmaohine,means for dividing ast-rip of sheet material into a ;se-

ries of stays, means for forming-seats-in the stays tokreceive cross-strands, and means "for laying the cross. Stl'flDClSlIl the seats of said stays.

14. Ina cage'forming machine,.means for dividing a strip of sheet materialunto-azseries of stays, means forcorrugatin-"g the stays; means i for guiding-the stays. into cage formation, and p means for laying, cross strandsin the corrugations of t'hei stays;

-15. In a fabric -'form-in'g :maohine,--L-means for advancing stays in pro-arranged form portions of the andvwith preformed. seats for cross strands,

means for laying cross strands in ,the seats-of s a-1d staysandholding them therein during advanclng movement thereof, and means for crimping the stays overthe crossstrands :andthereby shortening the stays by and during continued advancing movement,

predetermined relation, jmeans for lay ing cross strands ln-thefl, corrugations, spirally grooved. rotatable, members arranged between the stays ;for receiving the cross strands to advaneethem alongwith the stays, and apair of cooperatingroll'ers act- 111g upon each stay for compressing the a raised, portions thereof over the cross strands to connectthe two together .i I 18, In a cage-forming machine, means for arranglng a seriesof corrugated "stays in predetermined relation, means for; laying: j-cross strands 111511116 corrugations, spirally grooved rotatable members '.;arranged between the stays for receiving the. cross strands to advance them along fwiththe stays,

means forconnecting the'latter to the cross strands,- means for rotatingtherotatable members to advance the completed fabric, and means timed relative to said last means for severing the fabric into predetermined lengths.

19. In a cage; forming machine, stay forming means comprising a pair of rotary coacting'cutters for dividing a ibbon of sheet metal into 7 a, plurality of stay forming strips, and -means for providing crossstrand-secur ng.pro ect ons on the strips.

- 20. In a cageforming machine, stay-forming means comprising ,a pair of rotary coacting cutters for dividing a ribbon of sheet metal into a plurality, of stay-forming strips, and meansfor oorrugatingthe stripstolre- Yceive. cross strands for securement thereto.

21. In a cage forming machine, stay-forming means comprising pair of rotary eoacting cutters for dividing a ribbon of sheet metal into a plurality of stay-forming strips, ,a. pair; of cooperating corrugating rolls between which the dividedstripsjare fed,an d means for guiding the strips from thecutters to the rolls. v

22. In a cage forming machine, stay forming neans compr sing a, pan of rotary coacting cutters fondi-viding a ribbon of sheet metal into a plurality of stay forming strips, a pair of cooperating corrugating rolls between which the divided strips are fed, and means for applying and securing a wire filler to the corrugated stays.

23. In a cage forming machine, stay-"forming means comprising a pair of-rotary coacting cutters for dividing a ribbon of sheet metal into a' plurality of stay-forming strips, a pair of cooperating corrugating rolls between which the divided strips are fed, means for guiding the several corrugated stays into predetermined relation, and means for applying cross strands transversely of the arranged stays.

24. In a cage forming machine, stay-forming means comprising a pair of rotary coacting cutters for dividing a ribbon of sheet metal into a plurality of stay-forming *strips,' a pair of cooperating corrugating rolls between which the divided strips are fed, means for'guiding the several corrugated stays into predetermined relation, means for applying a wire filler to the stays, and means for clutching the stays to the filler.

In a cage-forming machine, a plurality of'worin members arranged sideiby side with the alternate ones having their spiral grooves extending reversely, and means for rotating the members with the alternate onesbeing'reversely rotated.

p 26; In a cage-forming machine, reversely operating worm members for spacing and advancing successive cross strands, and means for laying wire strands-in the grooves of said members.

27; In a cage-forming machine, reverselyoperating worm members for spacing and advancing successive cross strands, means for feeding stays lengthwise between the members, and means for laying cross strands in the grooves of said members and across the stays for connection therewith.

- 28. In a'cage-forming machine, reverselyoperating worm members for spacing and advancing successive cross strands, means for feeding stays lengthwise between the members, means for laying cross'strands in the grooves of said members and across the I stays for connection therewith.

29. In a cage-forming machine, reverselyoperating worm members for spacing and advancing successivecross strands, means for feeding corrugated stays betweenthe members in the direction of advance, and means for-laying the cross strands in the grooves of the members and stays.

30.'In a cageeforming machine, reverselyoperating worm members for spacing and advancing successive cross strands, means for feeding corrugated stays between the members in the direction of advance, means for laying the cross strands in the grooves of the members and stays, andmeans for compressing the raised portions of the stays over onto the cross strands for'securing-the stays thereto. i

cutter. and a cooperating 31. In a cage 'forming machine, reverselyof the members and stays, and cooperating pairsof compressing rollers between which the stays are advanced for clinching the same to the cross strands.

' 32. In a cage-forming machine, reversely operating worm members for spacing and' advancing successive cross strands, means forfeeding corrugated-stays between the members in the direction of advance, means for laying the cross strands in the grooves of the members and stays, means for compressing the raised portionsof the stays over onto the cross strands for securing the stays thereto, and means for severing the com-.

pleted cage into predetermined lengths. i

'33. 'Ina cage-forming machine, reverselyoperating worm members for spacing and advancing successive cross strands, means for feeding corrugated stays between the members in the direction of advance, means for laying the cross strands in the" grooves of the members and stays, means for compressing the raised portions of the stays over onto the cross strands for securing the stays thereto, and means for severing *the completed cage into predetermined lengths, comprising an exteriorly arranged fixed interiorly arranged movable cutter.-:

34. In a cage-forming machine, reverselyoperating worm members for Spacing and advancing successive cross strands, means for feeding-corrugated stays betweenthe members in thedirection of advance, means for laying the cross strands in. the groovesof the members and stays, means for compressing the raised portions of the stays over onto thecross strands for securing thestays thereto, and means for severing the completed cage into predetermined lengths, comprising an exteriorly arranged fixed cutter and a cooperating interiorly arranged movable cutter, means for rendering the movable cutter operativeincluding a slidable shaftv geared to rotate in timed relation with the operable by. the shaft during its sliding,

are

' worm member drive, and means for shifting the shaft at intervals .toeffect operation ;of the movable cutter.

movement for sliding the movable cutter to its operative position.

37. In a cage forming machine, means for dividing a sheet of metal into strips, means for supplying said strips to form stays for the cage, and means for coiling awire about the strips and fastening the same in a manner to form cross strands for the cage.

38. in a fabric forming machine, a plurality of carriers, means for advancing stays in prearranged form between the carriers and with preformed seats for cross strands, means for laying cross strands in the carriers and means for forcing the stays into interlocking relation with said cross strands during the advancing movement thereof.

39. In a cage forming machine, a plurality of carriers having seats, means for arranging stays in a definite form between the carriers, a strand-laying member designed for encircling the prearranged stays for laying a wire thereabout and in the seats of the carrier, and means for securing the wire strands to the stays.

I 40. A cage forming machine comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of conduits terminating in a predetermined arrange ment, means for longitudinally dividing aribbcn of metal into a plurality of strips for being fed through the conduits to provide predeterminedly arranged strands, and means for laying and affixing strands in the seats. 4

ll. A cage forming machine comprising means for dividing sheet metal stock into stay-forming strips, conducting tubes for guiding the strips into a predetermined arrangement, a rotary strand-laying device movable in a path encircling the pre-arranged strips, and means for attaching the laid strands to the latter.

-12. A cage forming machine comprising means for supporting stays in predetermined relation, an encircling strand-laying member for coiling wire strands thereabout, strand-spacing members having seats for supporting the laid strands, and means for attaching the stays to the strands.

Q23. A cage forming machine comprising means for supporting stays in predetermined relation, an encircling strand-laying memher for coiling wire strands thereabout, strand-spacing members for supporting the laid strands and advancing them prior and subsequent to attachment to the stays, and means for securing the stays and strands to gether.

l4. A cage forming machine comprising a frame, a wire reel journaled thereon, an upward extension from the frame above the reel, spiral strand-conveyors and spacers mounted on the extension in predetermined arrangement, a strand-laying member journaled on theframe for encircling the spacers and laying a wire from the reel thereabout to form strands, means for feeding stays between the spacers, and means for attaching the stays to the coiled strands.

as. A cage forming machine comprising a frame, a wire reel journaled thereon, an upward extension from the frame above the reel, spiral strand-conveyors and spacers mounted on the extension in predetermined arrangement, a strand-laying member journaled on the frame for encircling the spacers and laying a wire from the reel thereabout to form strands, means for feeding stays between the spacers, and means for forcing the stays strands into positive interlocking relation.

46. A cage forming machine comprising a frame, wire reel journaled thereon, an upward extension from the frame above the reel, spiral strand-conveyors and spacers mounted on the extension in predetermined arrangement, a strand-laying member journaled on the frame for encircling the spacers and laying wire from the reel thereabout to form strands, means for feeding stays between the spacers, means for forcing the stays strands into positive interlocking relation, and means for guiding the coiled strands into successive grooves of the spacers as the strand-laying member commences each succeeding revolution.

47. A cage forming machine comprising a frame, a wire reel journaled thereon, an upward extension from the frame above the reel, .spiral strand-conveyors and spacers mounted on the extension in predetermined arrangement, a strand-laying member jouraled on the frame for encircling the spacers and laying a wire from the reel thereabout to form strands, means for feeding stays between the spacers, means for forcing the stay strands into positive interlocking relation, means for guiding the successive coils of the strands into successive grooves of the spaces and means operating automatically to render the coil guiding means inoperative at predetermined intervals.

as. A cage forming machine comprising a frame, a wire reel journaled thereon, an upward extension from the frame above the reel, spiral strands-conveyors and spacers mounted on the extension in predetermined arrangement, a strand-laying member journaled on the frame for encircling the spacers and laying a wire from the reel thereabout to form strands, means for feeding stays between the spacers, means for securing the stays and strands together, and means for rendering the strand-laying member inoperative.

In testimony whereof wehave signed our names to this specification.

WVILLIAM E. BAKER. l/VILLIAM F. SONNEMAN. 

